practically the entire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically the entire" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that almost all of something is included or considered, with a slight allowance for exceptions. Example: "The report covered practically the entire scope of the project, leaving no important detail unaddressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I mean, she read practically the entire book".

The New Yorker

Today, he has practically the entire Party behind him.

The New Yorker

There, waiting to greet him, was a large crowd — practically the entire village.

The New Yorker

In my Times column today, I reviewed practically the entire marketplace of ultrabooks.

The New York Times

The revolution of 1952 hastened the departure or expulsion of practically the entire foreign community.

The New Yorker

The Knicks' dominance of the rematch was complete and spanned practically the entire 48 minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

In the second, showing the G.F.D.L. results, brown covered practically the entire country.

The New Yorker

"One day all of us -- practically the entire business community -- could be listed as political opponents".

The New York Times

The list of contributors to the team's Game Five win spans practically the entire roster, and beyond.

The New Yorker

His new book opens with a scene of horrific violence: Practically the entire village of Hesjovallen has been brutally murdered.

The New York Times - Books

The track was built on a plate-shaped terrain, where spectators have a view of practically the entire track.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "practically the entire", ensure the context clarifies what 'entire' refers to. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens your statement's clarity. For example, "Practically the entire team agreed" is clearer than "Practically the entire approved."

Common error

Avoid using "practically the entire" when significant portions are excluded. This phrase suggests near-total inclusion, so using it when a substantial part is missing undermines its meaning and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically the entire" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate that almost all of it is included. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. The examples show its usage in diverse contexts to emphasize near completeness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "practically the entire" is a widely used and grammatically sound quantifier, indicating that almost all of something is included, with allowance for minor exceptions. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and common usage across varied contexts. It serves to emphasize near-total scope or extent, most frequently found in News & Media sources, but also in Encyclopedias and Science. When writing, use it to convey near-completeness without overstating absolute inclusion, and ensure that what “entire” refers to is clear from the context. Close alternatives include "almost the whole" and "nearly all of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost the whole

Emphasizes the extent of inclusion, focusing on the 'wholeness' that is nearly achieved.

nearly all of

Highlights that a very high proportion is included, very close to full inclusion.

virtually the complete

Uses 'virtually' to indicate that the completeness is so close as to be effectively total.

substantially the entire

Focuses on the significant portion that is covered.

largely the entire

Indicates that the majority is included.

close to the entire

Stresses the proximity to full inclusion.

effectively the entire

Focuses on the practical outcome, suggesting that any exclusion is inconsequential.

for all intents and purposes the entire

A legal-sounding phrase implying a completeness in effect, if not in strict definition.

the vast majority of

Highlights that a very large segment or number is included.

almost without exception the entire

Acknowledges only the rarest of exceptions to an otherwise complete inclusion.

FAQs

What does "practically the entire" mean?

The phrase "practically the entire" means almost all or nearly the whole of something, implying that a very small part might be excluded or not considered.

How can I use "practically the entire" in a sentence?

You can use "practically the entire" to describe a situation where something is almost complete or all-encompassing. For example, "Practically the entire village was affected by the flood".

What are some alternatives to "practically the entire"?

Alternatives to "practically the entire" include "almost the whole", "nearly all of", or "virtually the complete" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "almost the entire" and "practically the entire"?

The phrases "almost the entire" and "practically the entire" are very similar. "Practically the entire" might subtly suggest a focus on real-world effects or implications, while "almost the entire" focuses more on quantity, but in most contexts, they're interchangeable.